Knockdown box



(No Model.) zsheets-sheet-l. M. A. HAMILTON.

KNOGKDOWN BOX .dtarney y WITW'ESSES (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. M. A.HAMILTON.

KNOGKDOWN B0X.

No. 373,828. Patented Nov. 29, 1887.

M MVM/TOR u WITNESSES i @aa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

i MILTON A. HAMILTON, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 373,828` dated November29, 1887.

vApplication exea Maren 7, 18e?.

ers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofAf this specification.

My invention has for its object the construction of anovel box forshipping and other purposes, constructed in whole or in part of a fabricformed of a series of slats interwoven with a series of wires, said boxbeing readily reducible to a knocked-down condition for transportationor storage, or for the return of the same to the shipper, and itconsists of the combinations of devices. and appliances hereinafterspecied, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speci-r iication, Figure 1represents a closed box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an additionalview of the same opened out into knockeddown condition. Fig. 3 is across-section illus' trating how the endsor partitions may be en gagedwith the sides of the 'jbox. Fig. 4 is a separate view of a portion offabric entering into the construction of the box where ventilation isdesired. Fig. 5 is a separate view of one of the channel-cleats. Fig. 6-illustrates a modification in which the slats constituting the sidesextend perpendicular to the plane of the bottom. Fig. 7 is a separateview j showing the slats notched on the edge to re- Vceive the wire.

seen, is readily fiexed at any point wit-hout materially weakening thestructure. This fabric I have found adapted in anyconvenient Serial No.230,022. (No model.)

way' inthe construction of boxes for the shipment of fruits and otherarticles.

B represents channel-cleats, which may be 'fastened at one end of aseries of slats, said cleats adapted,when the fabric-is folded, toengage in their respective channels analogous sections which mayconstitute the ends or intermediate partitions. of the box. Thus thechannel-cleats may be attached to the sides A A2, the bottom A3 of thebox, and to the coverA4 ofthe case. -These channel-cleats areconstructed ofseparate pieces of wood grooved, 4as shown, to form agroove or crozetoreceive an edge of the end pieces or partition, saidcleats being fastened in any suitable manner to the slats of which thefabric is composedas, for instance, by tacks or nails. Thesechannel-cleats are permanently engaged with the fabric and remainengaged therewith when the package is knocked down and are in place to'=engage the edges of the end pieces or partitions in making up a package.IIwo or more of these channel-cleats may be employed to engage said endpieces or partitions. When so constructed, the channels of said cleatswill obviously inclose the four edges of the ends C when the box isclosed. These ends may be constructed of the foregoing fabric or theymay be of one or more pieces of boards, while the remaining four sidesof the box may be made of said fabric.

When itis designed to provide the box with a partition,.additioualchannelcleats may be provided and suitably engaged tombrace the ends ofsaid partitions, the partitions them.

be fastened in such position by brads or tacks "to flex at thedivision-line between it and thel side. y

ICO

It will furthermore be seen that the front, bottom. rear, and top may bemade of an integral piece of fabric. The lid may be thus engaged uponone of the four sides of the box, as may be preferred, withoutanyalteration in the usual construction.

It is evident that a box so made is neat and inexpensive. Not only mayit readily be knocked down, as above described, but it may with equalfacility be made up again into a complete box for use. When knocked downit is in a very compact shape, occupying very little room. No nails areused in the ordinary manner, a few brads or tacks suicing all purposes.When the channels have once been engaged' with the fabric, as alreadyset forth, no further tacks, brads, or nails are required in assemblingthe parts for use, except possibly at the corners. A box so constructedmay be used again and again without injury.

I prefer to make the fabric of ordinary lath,

Veither plain or rough, with the wires with slats constituting the sidesmay be arranged to stand perpendicular to the bottom of the box. Vhen itis desired to make a tight box,aV box so constructed as now describedmay belined' with any suitable fabric, ci, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Vhen itis desired to bring the edges of the slats in close proximitywhere hard wood is employed, it may be desirable to provide the saidslats upon the edges with notches c3, as shown in Fig. 7, to receive thewire. Where soft wood is employed, the wire may be embedded in the woodsufficient to answer this purpose. Vhen this fabricis employed in theconstruction of boxes or crates requiring ventilation, the slats may beinterwoven with the wire, separated a desired distance from cach other,as shown in Fig. 4.

' For many purposes the f-abric may be woven in such a manner as to havethe wires at the sides or ends of the box or at intermediate pointsproject out from the face of the slats upon the surface used for theinside ofthe box, as shown in Fig. S at a5 and a, two lines of suchprojected wires forming a channel for the reception of the ends or otherdesired parts. When thus constructed, a few nails may be used at aboutthe center of the sides to more firmly engage the sides with the ends atthese points. In such cases the channel-cleats, as shown in Fig. 2, maybe dispensed with.

Instead of projecting two adjacent wires to form a Croze-channel, asshown in Fig. 8, a single wire entering into the construction of thefabric may be projected from the face of the slats, as shown in Fig. 9at a7, the adjacent partition, end, or side, as the case may be, beingrecessed,.as shown at e, to receive the projected wire and forni therequired engagement.

That I claim isl 1. A box in which the four sides are niade ofa fabricof slats interwoven with a warp of wires, having in combinationtherewith end pieces, said fabricprovided with channel-cleats B,fastened t`o said slats for receiving the edges of said end pieces,respectively, substantially as described.- y

2. A box in which the sides and ends are made of a fabric consisting ofslats woven together with a warp of wire, said fabric provided withehannelcleats B, attached to said slats for receiving the edges of theend pieces, substantially as described.

3. A fabric for the construction of packages, consisting of wooden slatsinterwoven with a warp of wires and having/in combination there withseparate channel-cleats B, permanently fastened to said slats,substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A box in which the sides and ends are made of a fabric of slatsinterwoven with a warp of wires, said sides formed of a single integralpiece ofsaid fabric and provided with Croze-channels adapted to engagesaid ends, substantially as described.

5. A package in which the sides or sides and ends are formed of a fabricof wooden slats interwoven with a warp of wires, said slats notched upontheir edges to receive said wires and bring the adjacent edges of theslats tight together, substantially as described.

G. A fabric for the construction of a box or package, consisting ofwooden slats interwoven with a warp of wires, said slats notched upontheir edges to receive said wires and bring the adjacent edges of theslats tight together, substantially as described.

. 7. A package consisting of wooden slats interwoven with a warp ofwires, the wire of said fabric projected upon one of the faces atdesired points, and having' in combination therewith recessed ends orpartitions engaging said projected wires, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

MILTON A. HAMILTON.

Vitnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. B. ODOGHERTY.

IGS

